Dave Tough's Advanced Paradiddle Exercises

Thanks to Todd Reid this rare copy is available for download in PDF format. According to Todd there are three known copies in libraries, so enjoy this piece of history.

For more about Dave Tough see my previous entry.

Another piece of historical trivia is contained in these two articles, Dave Tough's proclamation that Dixieland is dead and a scathing rebuttal in a follow-on piece by Eddie Condon proclaiming otherwise.

Dave Tough

Alcoholic ... intellectual ... one of the greatest drummers ever born. Those words sum up Dave Tough, and only scratch the surface when describing this complex man with God-given talent and a life cut short by his own vices.

I was planning to add to World's Greatest Drummers: My Short List by giving Dave Tough the number four slot. In researching material I immediately turned to my favorite resource, Drummin' Men: The Heartbeat of Jazz The Swing Years. This great book devotes 39 pages to Dave, which provided me with ample background. When I went looking for secondary material I stumbled across what I consider to be the definitive source of material about Dave, and there is little I can add to it: Steve Cerra's excellent article titled, Davy Tough: 1908 -1948.

Mr. Cerra's blog, Jazz Profiles, is one which I either frequently visit on purpose to catch up on what he's writing about, or is at the top of the list when I am researching some of my favorite drummers. His articles are well researched, and always provide his personal perspective. He truly gets inside the drummers or music about which he writes, and I have always come away with insights and facts that I would not have otherwise known.

Although I have little to add to Cerra's article or the excellent background material and personal anecdotes of some famous drummers and musicians contained in Drummin' Men: The Heartbeat of Jazz The Swing Years, I do have some personal perspectives to add regarding why Tough should be on the short list of the world's greatest drummers. First, the man could drive a band. Not just drive it, but swing it. His playing inspired his fellow musicians to perform at their best. In the video, Legends of Jazz Drumming, Louie Bellson related that one night while playing Apple Honey the saxophone player was so driven by Tough's groove that he played thirty choruses before he finally stopped, put his instrument down, and proclaimed he was in heaven. Few drummers can pull that off.

Another thing that draws me to Tough is he never took solos - he was focused on the groove and supporting the band. Woody Herman said it best:

A giant rhythm player! With the least amount of ‘chops,’ Dave inspired a whole big screamin’ band with his subtleties and strong feeling for time. And he was probably the most gentle, the kindest, one of the grooviest cats you’d ever want to know.

Thus Tough's approach to drumming has so influenced me that I consciously avoid fills unless they truly fit what the musicians are doing, and I eschew solos for the same reason. Not that I don't practice those things. I feel that I need to be prepared when they are called for, but I have learned to listen to what the musicians are doing and support them, in large part thanks to Dave Tough's playing as my imspiration.

The best way to understand what Tough did behind a band is to listen to him. I selected this performance because it is musically beautiful, and also because it will give you insights into Tough's playing. Notice that he in under the music and supporting each musician as they solo. His drumming stands out by not standing out. He was there to make those musicians play their best and to provide the pulse and groove to make the song sound the best:

Here is a rare clip as well:

Eccentric Rag-Condon
by boberwig


Loren Schoenberg's interview of Mel from 1989 is also invaluable to understanding Dave Tough as a musician:

Before closing this piece on who I consider to be the fourth greatest drummer ever born, I have a few recommendations for anyone who wants to learn more about the man or hear the music he played. First, do visit Steve Cerra's excellent article, Davy Tough: 1908 -1948. Second, if you want to study Tough's style listen carefully to Woody Herman's The V-Disc Years 1944-46, Vol. 1 & 2. You can also hear Dave Tough (and many more drummers) on the 4-CD set titled, Engine Room: History of Jazz Drumming.

Norman Granz' Improvisation

Last night I decided to rewatch (for at least the twentieth time) Improvisation, which was intended to be a follow-up to Norman Granz' Academy Award nominated Jammin' The Blues. The earlier video is included in its entirety on Disc #2 of the Improvisation set. For more about Norman Granz, listen to Nancy Wilson's Jazz Profiles spotlight on Granz, as well as the 18-Part series from a BBC broadcast titled, Out of the Norm.

Disc #1 contains a significant amount of footage that was never made into the follow-on to Jammin' The Blues, so you are seeing a lot of unedited, raw history. The first session is interesting for a number of reasons: it captures the first session that Bird and Coleman Hawkins played together, and that session was pre-recorded in a studio, then shot in a different location requiring the musicians to mime their playing to the recording - something that they pulled off very nicely. Here is a clip from that session:

Another clip that is early into the DVD is this remarkable session:

In my last post, Basie (and Bass) I expressed my admiration for Ellington, while stating that it was Basie who touched my soul. In that post the clip titled, Nob's Blues, is from Disc #1, as well as this great clip of Ellington in a trio setting. Here the Duke plays off John Lamb in much the same way Basie played off Ray Brown, and I love Sam Woodyard's brushwork:

Disc #2 contains Jammin' The Blues, and with two of my favorite drummers - Papa Jo Jones and Big Sid Catlett - you can be assured that this video will please any drummer. Check the spot where Jo Jones takes over the drum chair from Big Sid.

This chip contains a few remaining seconds from a smoking performance, then segues into one of the most beautiful events in which Lady Day and the Prez reunite for what was to be their last session together. This one touches me on a number of levels, not the least of which is how wonderful Billie Holiday and Lester Young are together.

The bottom line is Improvisation contains some great music, made by some of the greatest musicians in our history. If you love jazz this DVD set should be in your collection.